Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Mag22 on February 17, 2022, 10:29:36 AM
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After premature ovarian failure at 39 I was told not to take hrt due to cancer risk. Fast forward at 56 I had v large cyst removed both ovaries and tubes. I thought I would be fine as I was post menopausal but mood crashed, joint pain and dr gave me gel and utrogestan. I got the oestrogen lift but my reaction to progesterone was so severe I had to stop. A year later I collapsed with severe muscle cramps, stroke like symptoms which passed in a few hours, it kept happening but no cause identified. They have sent me round neuro, orthopaedic, cardiology. So far I have found I have pernicious anaemia, I don’t maintain vit d, I have osteoporosis and a hopefully benign kidney lump. None of which explains my overwhelming fatigue, muscle cramps and pain, brain stall amongst other fun experiences. I started wellspring 20-1 cream but a month in I am getting low mood and tearful. Also low cramps like period pain. I had to stop vagifem for va as I started bleeding so it seems I am sensitive to hormones. I never really got on with my own hormones so not such a surprise but I don’t know what to do now.
Do I just accept I can’t have anything and take pain relief for my joints and hope I don’t crumble. I’m 58 now but feel one foot in the grave unlike friends of similar age who are living their lives. I am getting really low. I don’t know if menopause clinics exist on nhs my gp hasn’t offered but has agreed a referral to private but currently can’t afford. I have some bupa cover for 6 months but no one seems to be authorised in my area. And if I can’t take hormones what options do I have? Would hysterectomy be an option? How do I get that? I will try anything to feel remotely normal.
Thanks for reading, this forum has been the one place I find decent advice and saved me when I became suicidal on progesterone, something the gp was totally unaware of.
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Never accept that there isn't a treatment regime that will help! Quality of Life is important so your GP should be exploring as many ways as possible, i.e. referral to a dedicated menopause specialist.
Your GP should not be pressing for a private referral though it may be quicker than waiting on the NHS lists. Is he/she aware that you don't use VA treatment as there are several alternatives: sometimes there is a sensitivity to the fillers but I would think your reaction would be due to your vaginal area being dry, sore and maybe with small cuts inside = bleeding. Your GP can prescribe 'ovestin' or there is an 'e.string' method to discuss. Hopefully someone will be along who has used the latter.
Where the cysts sent for histology at the time?
What are. you having for VitD replacement? MayB ask for a referral to an endocrinologist? Many cannot tolerate the progesterone part of a regime but there are ways of using it in a longer cycle than 'usual'.
Some find that keeping a mood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress and decide what to discuss next. :hug:
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HiMagg22, you are in a awful situation and everything CLKD has suggested is good advice, and your GP should definitely be referring you to a specialist and not just privately, it's very sad that you are suffering like this, there are definitely other options for va there's also a weaker cream that may suit, I believe but not 100% sure there are some new va treatments on the NHS now that can be used if you are not on systemic hrt, maybe someone else will come along with more knowledge of them, I have pernicious anemia aswell, and your symptoms fit with that condition, are you on b12 injections?, that's what I have every 3 months done at the gp surgery I've been on these for 10 years and was told it would be for the rest of my life, I'm assuming you are because without treatment the condition can be very serious, also I started with stroke like symptoms, loss of vision, weakness, numbness and tingling in left leg, arm hand and face, I also passed out with it, I was referred to stroke clinic after attending A&E, turned out I was having hemiplegic migraines, no head pain though, is this similar to what you are experiencing?, by the way I was also only 38 when peri menopause began for me, I've also had a hysterectomy done for large fibriods and continuous heavy bleeding, if you got a referral to gynaecology I'm pretty sure they would consider doing a hysterectomy considering your medical problems, if you are progesterone intolerant it would be easier to do estrogen only hrt, I'm not sure having a hysterectomy would benefit you though if you can't use estrogen hrt you say they said no hrt due to being a cancer risk so not sure you would be able to use systemic hrt, depends what the reason is to being a cancer risk, there are other ways of managing your health issues, hrt by my own experiences is not a cure all I still have awful joint and muscle pain dispite being on hrt for 4 years, there are other treatments for osteoporosis, my mum has it and takes two different tablets for it, not sure what there are called. There are menopause clinics on the NHS, but not in all areas but directly ask your gp about this don't let them fob you off with going private, regarding the joint and muscle pain my gp referred me to rheumatology for that, don't accept life has to be this way, there are many options and not just hrt, go back to your gp and explain you would like to know what other options there are for you other than hrt, as alot of your symptoms do sound menopausal, do a Google search to see if there is a NHS menopause clinic is your area if there is tell your GP you want to be referred to it, be a long wait but will definitely benefit you, I hope you find some answers and hope you start to feel better.
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You can ask for a referral to an NHS meno clinic but really your gp should give you more help. Might be worth asking if there's anyone else with more knowledge than her. Have a look at the Treatments tab. There are other progestogens that you may tolerate better than utro and it would be worthwhile exploring these options before you consider surgery.
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Thanks for all your replies. I will go back to gp. I do replace all the vitamins I’m missing, do my own b12 injections, changed my diet, basically tried anything that might help but I just feel I’m going in circles. 99% of my knowledge has come from forums like this! Thanks again.
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Morning. Take a list of concerns to work through with the GP. Let us know how you get on.